Amalgamator.



E. W. HOFFMAN.

v AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2a. 1914.

1,150,191. 1 PatentedAug. 17, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Ema/M 00 WWW ELMERWHOFFMAN COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. c.

E. w. HOFFMAN.

A MALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1914.

1,150,191. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ELMER HOFFMHN COLUMN/1 PLANOQWH can WASHINGTON. D. (:4

I ence being had to the pa a FTQE.

'ELMER W. HOFFMAN, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

AMALGAMATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17,1915.

Application filed Gctober 28, 1914i Serial No. 869,110..

To aZZwZmm it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, EL'MER W. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State, of Oklahoma, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamatorspof whichthe following is a specification, referaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in amalgamators and hasrelation more particularly to a device of this gen feral character foruse n the separation of gold from the auriferous matter in which it iscontained; and the object of the inprovide a novel and improved ventionis to amalgamato-r whereby the capacity of the machine is materiallyincreased and whereby the auriferous matter is passed slowly through themercury whereby flouring of the mercury is substantially entirelyobviated.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improvedamalga-mator whereby certain important advantages are attained and thede-Q vice is rendered simpler, less expenslve and otherwise moreconvenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter morefully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will;

carefully defined in the appended claim. In order that my invention maybe the better understood, I will now proceed to de-' scribe the samewith reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- I .r I

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view inside elevation illustrating anamalgamator constructed in accordance with. an embodiment of myinvention; Fig.2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view, partly in top plan and partly in section,of the amalganiator as herein embodied; Fig. 4 is a sectional view takensubstantially on the line 41 l of Fig. 3.; and Fig. 5 is an enlargedtransverse sectional view taken through one of the mixers hereinembodied.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a trough or well ofpredetermined configuration adapted to contain the mercury M, thedischarge end 2 of the well or trough having its upper edge terminatingsubstantially flush with the level of the mercury, as is believed to beclearly shown in ported thereby.

the accompanying drawings, and leading from such upper edge of thedischarge end of the trough or well 2 is the discharge chute 3 disposedon a predetermined incline and over which thewaste is adapted to bedischarged.

The auriferous matter is delivered upon the mercury at a'point adjacentthe end opposite the discharge end of the well through a chute at or thelike and is taken through the mercury M under the influence of theblades 5 radiating from the'core 6 mounted upon the shaft 7 disposedtransversely of the well or trough and operatively sup- It is to beobserved that the core 6 is so mounted as to have the under portion ofthe periphery thereof substantially flush with the top or level of themercury M. Each of the blades 5, as herein embodied, has its innerlongitudinal marginal portion positioned within a slot 8 producedlongitudinally of the core and coacting with such inner longitudinalmarginal portion of the blade are the clamping members 9 suitablythreaded through the core whereby it will be perceived that the blade 5may be readily and conveniently adjusted relatively to the core 4, asthe requirements of practice may dictate.

One extremity of the shaft 7 projects beyond one side of the trough orwell 1 and has affixed, thereto the sprocket wheel 10 adapted to beemployed in any desired manner with a suitable source of power, asindicated by the conventional sprocket chain 11. Although I have hereindisclosed the driving means for the shaft 7 as a chain and sprocket, Ido not wish to be understood as limiting myself in this respect as anyother driving means may be employed which will operate with convenienceand facility.

The shaft 7 is adapted to be rotated slowly in a direction toward thereceiving end of the well or trough so that the blades 5 thereof maytake the auriferous matter through the mercury without churning orwh-ipping the mercury. In practice I have blades 5. It is to be observedthat the core 12 is so positioned relative to the core 6 as tive to thetrough the mercury M.

1 said shaft 20 to permit the blades 14: thereof to catch the auriferousmatter carried through the mercury by the'blades 5 and to again takesuch matter through the mercury. observed that the core 12 is mountedupon a shaft 7 and that the shafts 7 and 7 a are operatively connectedin order to rotate in unison and in the same general direction throughthe medium of the endless sprocket chain 23 disposed around conventionalsprockets 24 fixed to said shafts 7 and 7*. While I have hereindisclosed but one supplemental core, it is to be observed that anydesired number may be employed which will operate with convenience. Itmight also be well to state that the cores 6 and 12 with theirconcomitant parts may be termed mixers in accordance with theirfunctions.

Above the discharge endZ of the trough or well 1 is rotatably supportedthe transversely disposed shaft '15 provided blades 16, the positioningof the shaft relaor well 1 being such as to permit the free portions ofthe blades to penetrate the waste matter but not to engage As isbelieved to be selfevident, upon the proper rotation of the shaft 15,the waste matter will be'forced upon the delivery chute 3.

As herein embodied, one extremity of the shaft 15 is provided with asprocket wheel 17 adapted to be coupled with a suitable source of powerand, as herein disclosed, has disposed therearound a sprocket chain 18.It is also desirable in practice to have the shaft 7 and the shaft 7 torotatein the same general direction and at the same speed.

The shaft 15 is adapted to rotate at less speed than the shafts 7 and 7and for which reason the gear 17 is of a greater diameter than the gear10 and the sprockets 2a. The chains 11 and 18 are disposed aroundsprockets 19 suitably affixed to a common shaft 20, being rotated in anydesired manner.

In communication with the bottom of the well or trough 1 at apredetermined point is the draw-off 21 under control of a con-.

ventional valve 22, for a purpose which is believed to be obvlous.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingWashington, D. 0. I

It is to be with the From-the foregoing description, it is thought .tobe obvious that an amalgamator constructed in accordance with myinvention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive natureand is particularly Well adapted for use by reason of the convenlenceand facility w1th whlch 1t may be .assemblechand it will also be obviousthat my invention is susceptible'of someichange and modification withoutmaterial departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for thisreason I do not wish to'be under-' stood as limiting myself to theprecise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown incarrying out my invention in practice. j r

I claim: A devicev of the character described com prising a well adaptedto contain mercury, the upper edge of the'discharge end of the wellterminating substantially flush with thetop line or level of the mercurywithin the well, cores rotatably supported by the well and movable inunison in the same general direction and at the same speed, the underportions of the peripheries of said cores being substantially flush withthe top line or level of the mercury, blades radiating from the core,and delivery means depositing upon the upper surface of the mercury at apoint in advance of the adjacent core and the blades carried thereby, arotatable discharge member carried by the well at the discharge endthereof, said discharge *mem' her being provided withblades adapted topass through the waste matter-on the mercury, said discharge memberbeing so positioned relative to the upper edge of the discharge end ofthe well as to prevent the blades thereof from passing into asubstantial engagement with the mercury within thewell and means forrotating the cores and discharge member inunison and in the same generaldirection and rotating the dis- 1 charge member at a reduced speedrelative to the cores.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 100 the Commissioner ofPatents.

